A blue and white porcelain ewer from the 'San Diego' Cargo. Circa 1600

A blue and white porcelain ewer from the 'San Diego' Cargo. Circa 1600

Of pear form with graceful curving spout and handle, painted with bands of stiff leaves, clouds, scepter heads and a large-scale classic lotus flower and leaf scroll pattern that repeats on the spout (marine adhesions to the base). 10 3/4in (27.5cm) high - Estimate: $800 - 1,200

Provenance: the 'San Diego' Cargo, excavated off the coast of the Philippines in 1991, named after the Spanish galleon attacked and sunk by the by the Dutch ship 'Mauritius' in 1600. The plate bears a paper label from the National Museum of the Philippines numbered '005530.

Bonhams. Asian Decorative Arts, 23 Mar 2009. 220 San Bruno Avenue, San Francisco www.bonhams.cvom (Copyright © 2002-2009 Bonhams 1793 Ltd., Images and Text All Rights Reserved)